Urge Congress to Co-Sponsor the Mental Health in Schools Act

National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health

March 25, 2013

Take two minutes to make your voice heard!

With broad support from the mental health, education and child welfare communities, Representative Grace Napolitano (D-CA), introduced the Mental Health in Schools Act for projects relating to children and violence, and to provide access to school-based comprehensive mental health programs. Senator Al Franken (D-MN) introduced companion legislation in the Senate in February.

The Mental Health in Schools Act would provide funding for public schools across the country to partner with local mental health professionals to establish on-site mental health care services for students.

The Mental Health in Schools Act will help students by: Helping provide professional help for the 1 out of 5 youth who suffer from some form of mental illnessAddressing mental health problems when students are young, instead of waiting until they have drifted into drug use, crime, depression, or suicideKeeping costs low, because mental health costs are very little compared to the costs placed on social services and the prison system when mental health is neglectedSaving lives, by funding school employed or community employed mental health professionals who help prevent suicide by identifying at-risk youth and counseling students before their problems spiral out of control

Details on the Mental Health in Schools Act: The Mental Health in Schools Act will provide $200,000,000 in competitive grants of up to $1 million each. It expands the scope of the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Program by providing on-site licensed mental health professionals in schools across the country. Funding will be distributed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which will set guidelines and measure the outcomes of the funded programs.